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Denver (11-3) at Houston (10-3)
- When: Nov 21 2025, 9:30 PM
- Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX, USA
- TV: Prime Video
Denver vs Houston Preview & Prediction
Spread: Houston -2.5
Moneyline: Houston (-140)
Total: 235.5
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Houston walks into this NBA Cup showdown playing like a team that ate its Wheaties and everyone else’s. Winners of five straight, the Rockets have been bullying opponents with size, physicality, and ridiculous offensive efficiency. Their win in Cleveland was the latest example, where Alperen Sengun basically put the entire franchise on his back.
Houston rolled out its skyline lineup to counter Mobley and Allen, and Sengun responded with a 28 point, 11 rebound, 7 assist domination tour. Whenever Cleveland made a push, Sengun punched back. Houston also hammered the Cavs inside, winning boards, second chance points and paint scoring by healthy margins.
Steven Adams’ physicality beside Sengun makes Houston a nightmare matchup for anyone not built like a medieval fortress. And when Aaron Holiday randomly drops 18 off the bench with 14 in one quarter, things look even scarier for opponents.
Rockets Player Prop Pick: Alperen Sengun Over 22.5 Points – He’s the focal point and Denver’s interior defense hasn’t been airtight lately.
Denver Nuggets Betting Preview
Denver rebounded from a sloppy loss to Chicago by riding Nikola Jokic’s ongoing triple double world tour and Peyton Watson’s surprise 32 point outburst to beat the Pelicans. The Nuggets have won eight of their last 10 and are right with Houston in the West standings.
However, late game sloppiness continues to bite them. Jokic fouled out and committed nine turnovers in New Orleans. The Nuggets coughed up 20 turnovers total, letting a 19 point lead shrink to one possession. Those same issues popped up in their Oct. 31 collapse against Portland. Denver can dominate stretches but still hasn’t figured out how to finish consistently.
If the Nuggets tighten up the ball security problem, they can absolutely steal this one. If not, Houston’s physicality and closing ability could bury them late.
Nuggets Player Prop Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 11.5 Rebounds – His usage stays sky high and Houston’s size creates more rebound chances, not fewer.
NBA Final Score & Expert Prediction
This one feels like a heavyweight matchup between two elite offenses, but Houston’s physicality and closing execution tip it their way. Denver’s turnover issues show up again late and Houston pulls it out behind Sengun.
Final Score: Rockets 121, Nuggets 116
Lean: Houston -2.5
Total: Over 235.5
- NBA Basketball Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
- Get real-time live scores & latest betting odds here!
